PRS for Music announces monthly royalty payments for online streaming
Songwriters will now be paid faster and more frequently when their music is streamed online.
PRS for Music has introduced monthly royalty payments for multi-territory online licensing (MTOL), meaning members will now be paid monthly, instead of quarterly, when their music is streamed on services such as Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube and others.
Online streaming now represents a significant and growing portion of members’ income. In 2024, online usage accounted for 28.4% of the total royalties paid out by PRS for Music. The switch to monthly payments follows the introduction last year of a 20% reduction in the administration rate applied to MTOL collections, which is projected to return an additional £47 million to members by 2030.
From 15 August, eligible members will start receiving online streaming royalties every month, in line with PRS’s existing payment thresholds. This change is part of a broader commitment to make royalty payments more timely, transparent and aligned with how music is consumed.
Monthly payouts is the natural next step for a society focused on getting more members more money – one that not only listens to what our members need but also reflects the pace and scale of today’s music industry. This is about giving creators faster access to the money they’ve earned and the insights they need to understand how their music is performing. We’re not just responding to change, we’re driving it.
Behind the scenes, this shift has been made possible by improvements in data processing and system modernisation, including the use of our first-of-its-kind copyright database. The pioneering new copyright system enables more complete, accurate and timely data across territories, ensuring royalties are paid out with greater speed and precision. As Tim Arber, PRS for Music’s Director of Operational Improvement, explains:
"We can leverage improvements in our technology, our processes and our data to get money to members sooner, while being sensitive that we need to make sure that it’s in a way that works for our members... that change is part of the major programme we're running, our end-to-end distribution programme, which is fundamentally about ensuring we continue to deliver a world-leading royalty distribution service, in a rapidly evolving music landscape."
About PRS for Music
PRS for Music is a world-leading music collective management organisation representing the rights of more than 180,000 talented songwriters, composers and music publishers. Redefining the global standard for music royalties, PRS for Music ensures songwriters and composers are paid whenever their musical compositions and songs are streamed, downloaded, broadcast, performed and played in public.
For more than 110 years it has grown and protected the rights of the music creator community, paying out royalties with more accuracy, transparency and speed. In 2024, PRS for Music paid out £1.02 billion in royalties and collected a record £1.15 billion in revenues.
